BearCom Issues White Paper that Explores Options for Organizations Impacted by Nextel Network Shutdown

BearCom, a nationwide provider of wireless communications equipment and solutions, today announced the release of a white paper urging organizations impacted by the shutdown of the Nextel National Network to explore all their options before settling on a replacement for their push-to-talk communications systems.

In Considering All the Options for Replacing Nextel Push-to-Talk Communications Services, BearCom reviews the push-to-talk phone services offered by three national carriers. Then it describes how two-way radios are an attractive alternative to phones in many applications.

It said, “In considering the options for replacing Nextel push-to-talk services, why should companies restrict themselves to phones? Two way radios were the inspiration for push-to-talk, and they can be configured to facilitate one-to-one communication without airtime fees common to phones.”

“Motorola Solutions, the industry leader, offers a huge selection of two-way radios, led by its MOTOTRBO digital line,” the paper continued. “Motorola MOTOTRBO eliminates the limitations imposed by the Nextel network on the number of talk groups and the number of users in a talk group. Also eliminated are service-level issues caused by networks that get overloaded with users during peak usage times. And with Motorola Solutions, there are no concerns about which devices have push-to-talk capability. They all do.”

BearCom President & CEO Jerry Denham said the white paper is being published to remind organizations that in cases like the Nextel network shutdown, their best course of action is to seek out a provider that is vendor agnostic and focused first on meeting a need instead of selling a product. “BearCom rents and leases push-to-talk phones from Sprint and Verizon Wireless, and we rent, lease, and sell two-way radios from Motorola Solutions,” Denham said. “BearCom is uniquely positioned to deliver a push-to-talk system that is designed based on the needs of our customer. We take the time to learn those needs through an extensive needs assessment.”

“Some of the biggest names in American business have trusted BearCom with their wireless communications needs,” Denham added, “and our customer focus is one of the main reasons why.”

The Nextel National Network, which still serves a significant number of push-to-talk subscribers, is set to be decommissioned effective June 30. It is based on a technology called iDEN, or integrated digital enhanced network, that is inadequate to meet the data needs of modern smartphones. In 2010, Sprint said it would decommission the Nextel network, and in May 2012, it set the effective date of the shutdown, which is now just two months away.

Source: Bearcom